Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Zachary Mason

Zachary Mason - 5...4...3...2...1... EP

5...4...3...2...1... ! It contains three tracks and includes genres such as Space Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Experimental, and more. The EP tells a continuing story of mankind fleeing a ruined and dying Earth and attempting to colonise Mars... There is plenty of humour and quirkiness, but also the occasional thoughtful remark here and there. All of the drums were provided by Nate Barnes, a member of the critically acclaimed Rock Band Rose Hill Drive, and the bass for tracks 1 and 2 was played by John Thomasson, who plays with Little Big Town

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Interview with Zachary Mason

What inspired the space-bound concept behind 5...4...3...2...1...?

I’ve had a love of science fiction for many years, and I guess that this is a major inspiration… Also, lots of people are concerned about climate change and its consequences, so I thought that touching on that in the ep might go down well. And making songs with a space theme also gave me the opportunity of experimenting with some quirky, reverby sounds and effects!

How did you balance humour and seriousness in telling the story of humanity’s escape from Earth?

Well, I’m glad you think that I did manage to achieve a balance!- I wasn’t going to assume that I’d got that aspect of the ep right! What can I say- I just went for it, and if people like the mix of humour and seriousness, I’m happy!

What drew you to genres like Space Rock and Psychedelic Rock for this project?

I have songs in my listening library which fall into those genres, so there's inspiration there… And I do enjoy these genres, so I wanted to make some music in these genres! There’s room for a fair bit of experimentation, quirkiness and humour within such genres as well, I think.

Can you walk us through how each track progresses the EP’s storyline?

Track No.1 introduces the listener to the idea of mankind preparing for a flight to Mars and leaving. It also looks at the reasons why, with some humour and perhaps a touch of the profound here and there… Track No. 2 seeks to glorify silliness with an account of man meeting Martians upon arriving on Mars- and appeasing their violent natures, thanks to a lucky mistake, with the aid of funky music! There’s nothing profound about this one, and it's full of fun! The final track has a more serious tone and imagines mankind installed upon Mars, reflecting upon and lamenting their new existence and the mistakes made in the past…

What was it like collaborating with Nate Barnes and John Thomasson on these tracks?

Great! I’ve worked with both of these top musicians on a few tracks now, and they really add a lot to each song. It’s all great stuff, but I particularly love John’s distorted Bass on The Funky Martians, and my favourite drumming has to be Nate’s work on 5…4…3…2…1… !

How do you approach genre experimentation without losing your artistic identity?

It could be said that genre experimentation is my artistic identity! I like trying things out; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t- I just hope fans think it works with 5…4…3…2…1… !

Which lyric or moment on the EP are you most proud of and why?

One of the highlights for me is the spacey, echoey sound that introduces Earthsick: although the song was originally recorded in early 2024, I changed the intro just a few weeks before release and recorded that sound… Initially, this track was entitled: “Girlfriends Are Forbidden”, and was intended to have a sillier theme- girlfriends get banned on the new Mars colony, as they forgot to pack the contraceptives! (As well as the tin-opener!) However, as the track progressed, I realised the music I was recording required a more serious theme; hence Earthsick was borne… I really like the intro- it sounds so sci-fi and atmospheric to my mind, and it sets up the song well in my opinion. I hope you will agree!

How has your home recording setup shaped the sound of your music over the years?

My sound has improved and changed a lot over the past four and a half years… Certainly, my setup lends a certain lo-fi quality to my music, which appeals to some people… Also, recording in my own space rather than a recording studio gives me a sense of privacy and solitude that I just wouldn’t get with a producer or studio technician in the background… I think that is important for a lot of my music.

What themes or ideas are you hoping listeners take away from this EP?

I’m not really looking to philosophise or preach a certain moral that much with this work; I just want people to have fun, enjoy the sounds and music, and maybe think- just a little!

If you could perform this EP on Mars, what would that show look like?

Well, it would have to be inside some building or structure with an oxygen supply- no fun trying to perform in a heavy spacesuit!- and of course I’d have a few of those funky Martians performing a dance routine up on the stage! Also, I think I’d try and arrange a duet with Bruno Mars…